Multiple unit beam



Sept. 1938. GREULICH 2,130,797

MULTIPLE UNIT BEAM Filed Jan. 21, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIBA.

. IN VEN TOR. 65241.0 6. fiEE/L/C/i,

H5 A TTORNEYS.

Patented- Sept. 20, 1938 Iii; ('1. l

MULTIPLE UNIT BEAM Gerald G. Greulich, Mount Lebanon,

Pittsburgh, Pa.

- Application January 21, 1937, Serial No. 121,657

5 Claims.

1: This invention relates to structural shapesand more particularly to built-up structural shapes or beams formedby welding standardized sections together. I An object of the invention is the provision of abeam made up from standardized sections and combined so as to produce a completed beam structure having a variable cross-sectional flange and web thickness as well asa variable length. 2 Otherobjects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds, in which:

- Figure- 1 is aside elevation of a beam con struc-ted in accordancewith the present inven- Fi ure 2 is a section on line II--II of Figure 1;

f Figure3 is aiseparate view, in elevation, showing the spliced ends of the standardized sections Figure 5 is a preparatory to being assembled and welded;

,n Figure 4 is a side elevation of another form of beam; 5 1 7 section on line .V-V of Figure 4; Figure .6 is a side elevation of still another ,form ofbeam;

Figure -7 is a section on line VIIVII of Fig- Figure 8 is a separated view of the standardized 7 sections prior to assembling;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of a still further form of beam; and

Figure 10 is a section on line XX of Figure 9. Inthe drawings, the beam shown in Figures 7 1' to 3, inclusive, comprises standardized end- .the web thickness of the end-sections 2.

sections 2 havingthesame web and flange thickness and an intermediate or central section 3 having a flange thickness greater than that of the end-sections 2 and a web thickness less than central section 3 has, at each end thereof portions of its web cut away, while an end of each end-section 2 has its flange and web cut away to provide a reduced portion t adapted to fit i. within the space between the flanges at the and a minimum web thickness atits central portion, where the greatest flange stress and mini- ,mum web stress are present, and a minimum flange thickness and a maximum web thickness fon eachend thereof where the minimum flange 'f'stress "and maximum Web stress are present. .Also, thea depth of the web is variable, as shown in Figure". 3, the depth of the web on the end- The sections 2 being greater than that in the central section 3, due to the latter section having a greater flange thickness than that on the endsections 2.

The form of beam construction shown in Figures 4 and 5, is similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, except instead of having a uniform outside depth, the depth is variable due to the height of the webs in each section being the I same In the showing of Figures 6 to 8, inclusive, the depth of the web, in the various standardized sections, is uniform but owing to the flanges of the respective sections having different thicknesses, the completed beam has a variable outside depth.

In Figure 8, the central standardized section is indicated by the reference character 6 and, as shown, has portions of the web cut away at each end to accommodate. the web-portion l of the adjacent standardized section 8 which has its flanges cut away, at one end, a distance equal to the cut-away portion on the section 6. The opposite end ,of this section 8 has its web cut away to receive. the web-portion 9 of the standardized section H], which section has its flanges cut away a distance equal to the cut away webportion of the adjacent section 8.

In Figures 9 and 10, there is illustrated a multiple unit beam including a plurality of standardized sections provided with webs of uniform depth and flanges of uniform thickness. However, while the flanges are of uniform thickness they are variable in width, the central standardized section having a flange width greater than the adjacent sections.

It is well known that the ordinary beam or girder, as rolled, does not use its metal efliciently in resisting the internal strains and stresses which are set up. Ordinarily, the web stresses are a maximum at the end and reduce to theoretical zero at the center of the beam span. The flange stresses, however, are theoretical zero at the ends of the beam and are a maximum at mid-span. It is, therefore, desirable to reduce the thickness of the web material at the center of the span and increase the thickness of the flange material and its area at mid-span. The critical sections in the design of an ordinary rolled beam are the flange requirements at the center of the span and the web requirements at the ends. The fabricated welded beams, therefore present possibilities of effecting considerable economies in the use of material. It is possible to select web sections which progressively decrease in thickness toward the center of the beam, whereas flange sections can be selected which increase in thickness.

In accordance with the present invention, it is not necessary to maintain a constant width of flange. It may often be desirable to decrease the width of flange material toward the end of the beam. In this case, the beam could be made up with a constant depth of web and also with a constant out-to-out depth of beam, the variation in flange areas being secured by changes in the width of the flange. show a constant thickness of flange from the side but viewed from the top, the sections of the flange would step down progressively in width toward the ends of the beam.

It will be noted from the drawings that under the present invention, it is possible .to use standardized sections which are held in stock, and by welding the sections together at their junction along the line J, a beam of any desired constructionmay be completed. In the case of the three-section beam, the end section for a considerable range in over-length of the beam canbe made of one size and length, the variation coming allzin the center section. It will also be seen that in all cases, the corresponding pairs of end sections are identical. In the case of the five-section beam, the two sections at each end of the beam again are identical, while the variation may come in. the center section.

WhileI have shown and described one form of my'invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

-I claim:

1. A multipleunit beam comprising preformed sections having varied web and flange thicknesses, some of said preformed sections having portions of the flanges cut away and at least one of said preformed sections having a portion of its web at each end cut away, the flanges and webs of said preformed sections abutted in end-to-end Such a beam would.

relationship and welded to form a unitary beam structure.

2. A multiple unit beam. comprising preformed sections having varied web and flange thicknesses, some of said preformed sections having portions of the flanges cut away and at least one of said preformed sections having a portion of its Web at each end cut away, the flanges and webs of said preformed sections abutted in endto-end relationship and welded toform a=unitary beam structure with the =meeting point of the flanges of adjacent sections being in a difierent vertical plane from the meeting point of the web portions of said sections.

3. A multiple unit beam comprising preformed sections having varied web and flange thicknesses, some of said preformed sections having portions of the flangescut away and at least one of said preformed sections having a portion of its web at each end cut away, the flanges and webs of said preformed sections abutted in endto-end relationship and welded to form a unitary beam-structure having a maximum flange thickness at its central portion and a maximum web thickness at its ends.

4. A multiple unit beam having a uniform depth comprising preformed sections having varied web and flange thicknesses, someof said preformed sections having portions of the flanges cut away and at least one of saidpreformed sections having a portion of its web at eachend cut away, the flanges andwebs of said preformed sections abutted in end-to-end relationship .and welded to form. a unitary beam structure.

5. A multiple unit beam having a variable depth comprising preformed sections having varied web and flange thicknesses, some of said preformed sections having portions of the flanges cut away and :at least one of said preformed sections having a portion of its Web at each end cut away, the flanges and webs of said preformed sections abutted in end-to-end relationship and welded to form a unitary beam structure.

GERALD G. GREULICH. 

